Qld Men Who Died In Molasses Tank Were Brothers

Newsroom

Posted on January 15, 2018

The two workers who died while working inside a molasses tank at a central Queensland business were brothers.

Media reports have named the men as Frank Vella, 52, and his younger brother George Vella, 48. They were found dead inside the tank at a transport business at Sarina, south of Mackay, on Saturday night.

It's believed the brothers were overcome by fumes in the tank, which was also used to carry fertiliser. A Workplace Health and Safety investigation is probing what went wrong.

Friends and family say the men were well known, and their loss will hit the Sarina community hard.

"Frank was a quiet bloke but had a funny sense of humour. He would come out with some hilarious stuff, sometimes," RSL Sarina Branch president Ron Gurnett has told The Courier-Mail.

"George would do anything for the community. They're very nice people who would give you the shirt off their back without questioning it."

Workplace authorities have seized a prime mover with a trailer carrying two transport tanks as part of the investigation.